Corbin Burnes calls home debut vs. Brewers ‘step in the right direction’

PHOENIX — What became a subplot given the excitement of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ walk-off win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday was one of the club’s highest-profile home debuts.

Diamondbacks fans had the chance to watch four-time All-Star pitcher Corbin Burnes make his long(er-than-expected)-awaited first home start at Chase Field after signing a team-record $210 million contract this past offseason. The applause during pregame introductions was notable.

Burnes delivered a fourth straight quality start for Diamondbacks pitching, throwing six innings with three earned runs. He struck out three batters with a season-low two walks against his former club. Without run support, he exited in line for a loss down 3-0.

A late decision to start Zac Gallen on Opening Day pushed Burnes past the first home series, and therefore Burnes threw his first two games this season on the road. Those appearances were not particularly sharp, as he allowed six earned runs in 9.1 innings.

Overall, Burnes was encouraged by his latest start despite some hiccups, calling it a step in the right direction.

“Better,” he said. “Rough inning there in the second. Kind of felt like I was throwing against both the other team and the umpire for a little while. But managed to settle in those middle innings, really just one mistake during the last inning.

“Otherwise I would’ve been really happy with it. But definitely step in the right direction. Something good to build off for the next one.”

Corbin Burnes, Dirty 81mph Curveball…and Sword. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/NJdcXbCz3Y

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 13, 2025

Burnes referred to what manager Torey Lovullo described as 50-50 calls by umpire Alfonso Marquez during a Sal Frelick walk that did not go Arizona’s way. Burnes felt he was squeezed and it cost him.

The Brewers took a 2-0 lead after a pair of hits and walks, but Burnes found a groove from there. He retired 10 of 11 batters over a stretch with seven groundouts and two strikeouts.

Jackson Chourio ended Milwaukee’s offensive malaise with a no-doubter home run off Burnes in the sixth inning to take a 3-0 lead and extend his hitting streak to 14 games.

The Diamondbacks turned to the bullpen in the seventh, calling on Ryne Nelson, who successfully bridged the gap. Nelson threw three innings with one earned run on two hits before the offense woke up — Nelson has thrown 8.1 innings with one earned run in his last three outings.

“I thought his stuff came out super hot,” Lovullo said of Burnes. “Maybe made a couple mistakes early. … But then after he started to pitch and started to hit his spots and handed it off to Nelly, who did an incredible job. Hats off to the pitching and making sure we stayed in this game.”

Corbin Burnes’ Milwaukee connection

Burnes’ velocity was up a tick compared to his season average, although he said there was no extra juice from facing his former squad.

The 2021 Cy Young winner pitched for Milwaukee from 2018-23 before the Brewers traded him to the Baltimore Orioles. Burnes made one start against the Brewers last year (5 IP, 2 ER).

Burnes had to work from behind all game, as the D-backs were shut out through eight innings.

Arizona failed to score off Brewers right-handed starter Chad Patrick, a former Diamondbacks prospect traded in 2023 for infielder Jace Peterson — now a consultant with the Brewers.

Patrick, in only his third MLB start, threw 4.1 scoreless innings despite surrendering five hits and two walks, as the D-backs went 0-for-5 against him with runners in scoring position.

He wears No. 39 for Milwaukee, the same number Burnes wore during his tenure with the club. Burnes heard from Milwaukee’s equipment manager that Patrick chose 39 because of Burnes’ influence.

“That’s cool, the fact that I can have that impact on guys getting in the big leagues now,” Burnes said. “I think he said he grew up watching me, so now I’m starting to feel old, but it’s cool.”

Burnes watched the five-run ninth-inning rally from the clubhouse in excitement.

“These guys, you can never count ’em out,” Burnes said. “You know you’re never out of it.”

Related

How the Diamondbacks turned their offense around in epic rally to beat BrewersDiamondbacks rally for 5 runs in 9th inning to walk-off BrewersDiamondbacks expecting 'drastic change' with new City Connect uniformsBullpen updates: Ryne Nelson's role week-to-week as point of no return loomsEduardo Rodriguez delivers quality start, Paul Sewald bounces back in Diamondbacks winTorey Lovullo: Corbin Burnes is targeting an early-September return